Wordsworth House and Garden
Main Street
Cockermouth
Cumbria
CA13 9RX
England
Website
wordsworthhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk
Telephone
Recorded Information
01900 820884
Enquiries/Group bookings
01900 824805
Fax
Group bookings
01900 820883
Living Georgian town house where William Wordsworth was born in 1770. Costumed servants are on duty every day in the working Georgian kitchen. Explore William's childhood garden, meet our heritage chickens, try on costume, visit our temporary flood exhibition in the cellars and enjoy delicious tea and cake in the cafe.
Venue Type:
Historic house or home, Garden, parklands or rural site
Additional info
Very limited parking on Low Sand Lane, adjacent to house. Drop-off point. 6 steps to main entrance with no handrail. Lift available for wheel chair users to first floor & Cafe. Level entrance to shop. Grounds largely accessible. Garden accessible via shop and/or side gate on Low Sand Lane. Induction loops in reception and shop.
Main Street
Cockermouth
Cumbria
CA13 9RX
England
Website
wordsworthhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk
Telephone
Recorded Information
01900 820884
Enquiries/Group bookings
01900 824805
Fax
Group bookings
01900 820883
Collections services
- General guide to collections available
Main Street
Cockermouth
Cumbria
CA13 9RX
England
Website
wordsworthhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk
Telephone
Recorded Information
01900 820884
Enquiries/Group bookings
01900 824805
Fax
Group bookings
01900 820883
Free for Locals
Come and see what’s new at Wordsworth House and Garden this season. Immerse yourself in the day-to-day details of Georgian life in this cosy family home and chat to the costumed servants about working for the Wordsworths. Explore the ‘hands-on’ rooms, experience the atmospheric working kitchen and sample an authentic 18th-century recipe. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some tips to try at home. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores! Entry is free for anyone living in the CA13 area – please bring proof of postcode, such as a utility bill.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11am-4pm
Free for Locals
Come and see what’s new at Wordsworth House and Garden this season. Immerse yourself in the day-to-day details of Georgian life in this cosy family home and chat to the costumed servants about working for the Wordsworths. Explore the ‘hands-on’ rooms, experience the atmospheric working kitchen and sample an authentic 18th-century recipe. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some tips to try at home. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores! Entry is free for anyone living in the CA13 area – please bring proof of postcode, such as a utility bill.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11am-4pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
If this house could speak
Hear a special talk on the quirky details of William Wordsworth's birthplace. Wordsworth House is full of architectural curiosities and fascinating features, some hidden from the public eye or hard to spot. Discover why William’s parents slept apart and where the mystery door leads. Learn about the history of the house before and since the Wordsworths and how it finally came into the care of the National Trust. Find out how the house was researched and restored to give a picture of William's time, then make yourself at home in the “hands-on” rooms and get a real feel for life in the 18th century.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
If this house could speak
Hear a special talk on the quirky details of William Wordsworth's birthplace. Wordsworth House is full of architectural curiosities and fascinating features, some hidden from the public eye or hard to spot. Discover why William’s parents slept apart and where the mystery door leads. Learn about the history of the house before and since the Wordsworths and how it finally came into the care of the National Trust. Find out how the house was researched and restored to give a picture of William's time, then make yourself at home in the “hands-on” rooms and get a real feel for life in the 18th century.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Listen with Mother
Listen to a special Mother's Day talk about Wordsworth's childhood memories of his beloved mother, Ann. Ask the servants – if you dare – about Georgian childbirth and the grisly medical techniques that were used. Find out about 18th-century childcare – such as the painful way babies were dressed and what they were given to eat (or not). Discover more about Ann and her relationship with her husband John. Visit her bedroom and see the sort of dress she would have worn for special occasions, and learn about some lovely Georgian crafts to try at home. Then why not treat the mum in your life to something delicious in our cosy café?
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Listen with Mother
Listen to a special Mother's Day talk about Wordsworth's childhood memories of his beloved mother, Ann. Ask the servants – if you dare – about Georgian childbirth and the grisly medical techniques that were used. Find out about 18th-century childcare – such as the painful way babies were dressed and what they were given to eat (or not). Discover more about Ann and her relationship with her husband John. Visit her bedroom and see the sort of dress she would have worn for special occasions, and learn about some lovely Georgian crafts to try at home. Then why not treat the mum in your life to something delicious in our cosy café?
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Flowering imagination
Celebrate World Poetry Day by joining us for a special reading by a costumed servant in our elegant dining room. Listen to Daffodils, the most widely known and loved of Wordsworth’s poems, and gain an insight into the inspiration his Cockermouth childhood provided throughout his career. From playing by the River Derwent and chasing butterflies with his sister Dorothy to the breathtaking local scenery, life here shaped him as a man and a writer. As you enjoy exploring his former home, you will find a wide variety of poems by a selection of poets, modern and historic, waiting to be read.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Flowering imagination
Celebrate World Poetry Day by joining us for a special reading by a costumed servant in our elegant dining room. Listen to Daffodils, the most widely known and loved of Wordsworth’s poems, and gain an insight into the inspiration his Cockermouth childhood provided throughout his career. From playing by the River Derwent and chasing butterflies with his sister Dorothy to the breathtaking local scenery, life here shaped him as a man and a writer. As you enjoy exploring his former home, you will find a wide variety of poems by a selection of poets, modern and historic, waiting to be read.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Not fit to drink
Mark World Water Day by joining us for a ten-minute talk and find out why water was a dangerous substance in William Wordsworth's time. Discover where the family got theirs from, the diseases that could be caused by drinking it and the cures (or lack of them) in Georgian times. Also, find out what they would have instead and see some of these drinks being prepared in the kitchen by our costumed servants. Learn about the other ways they used water in Wordsworth's time, including what went in the giant copper in the kitchen, how often they washed their clothes, and the ins-and-outs of 18th-century personal hygiene.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Not fit to drink
Mark World Water Day by joining us for a ten-minute talk and find out why water was a dangerous substance in William Wordsworth's time. Discover where the family got theirs from, the diseases that could be caused by drinking it and the cures (or lack of them) in Georgian times. Also, find out what they would have instead and see some of these drinks being prepared in the kitchen by our costumed servants. Learn about the other ways they used water in Wordsworth's time, including what went in the giant copper in the kitchen, how often they washed their clothes, and the ins-and-outs of 18th-century personal hygiene.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Conservation in action
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at National Trust properties? Take this special chance to see our skilled housekeeping staff at work. Learn how the priceless antique items in the house are cared for and preserved. And discover why a can of beer is an essential part of the team’s cleaning kit. Then step back in time and see our costumed household servants in action, as they demonstrate some less high-tech 18th-century cleaning methods, such as using sand, lemons and goose wings, and discover the science behind the humble bar of soap and other natural anti-bacterial materials.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11am-12:30pm
Conservation in action
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at National Trust properties? Take this special chance to see our skilled housekeeping staff at work. Learn how the priceless antique items in the house are cared for and preserved. And discover why a can of beer is an essential part of the team’s cleaning kit. Then step back in time and see our costumed household servants in action, as they demonstrate some less high-tech 18th-century cleaning methods, such as using sand, lemons and goose wings, and discover the science behind the humble bar of soap and other natural anti-bacterial materials.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11am-12:30pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Playthings and pastimes
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Playthings and pastimes
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Catch a pastry fish
Get creative in the Georgian kitchen and make a traditional pastry fish to take home. Craft your fish using our selection of wooden tools and learn some tricks of pastry creation suitable for artists of all abilities! Our servants will even bake your fish in the bread oven. See our full-size fish wrapped in pastry and pick up a copy of this fantastic 18th-century recipe to try at home. Chat with our servants about the special techniques of Georgian pastry creation, including how they made some truly monstrous pies, sweet and savoury tarts – and how a giant pasty can be the ideal gift.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Sugar and spice
Join us for a special day devoted to the Georgians' obsession with sweet and spicy foods. Discover amazing facts about spices, the battles to acquire them, and how they were used in 18th-century cooking – such as in a rather interesting recipe for “Curry the Indian Way” dating from 1747! Find out how sugar was transported and refined. Learn ancient drinking-chocolate recipes, how to make a syllabub, and all about other glorious sweet treats – including plates that you can eat, birds’ nest jellies, a tasty hedgehog and a strange sweet macaroni pie. Plus, have a special tasting of a sweet 18th-century dish.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Sugar and spice
Join us for a special day devoted to the Georgians' obsession with sweet and spicy foods. Discover amazing facts about spices, the battles to acquire them, and how they were used in 18th-century cooking – such as in a rather interesting recipe for “Curry the Indian Way” dating from 1747! Find out how sugar was transported and refined. Learn ancient drinking-chocolate recipes, how to make a syllabub, and all about other glorious sweet treats – including plates that you can eat, birds’ nest jellies, a tasty hedgehog and a strange sweet macaroni pie. Plus, have a special tasting of a sweet 18th-century dish.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
A handful of oats
Join us as we celebrate the humble oat, a staple ingredient in the 18th-century Cumbrian diet. Head for the kitchen to try your hand at ‘the daily grind’ needed to prepare the oats, then roll up your sleeves and have a go at shaping some clap bread, giant forerunner of the modern oatcake. Find out about travelling clap-bread makers and experience how it was baked over an open fire. Try some traditional rum butter, which was used to mask the cardboard-like qualities of the clap bread, learn the recipe, and discover more about the story of rum in Georgian West Cumbria.
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Ghostly fireside tales
Head for the Georgian kitchen, get cosy by the fire and listen as our servants tell some of the traditional Cumbrian ghost stories William and his sister Dorothy might have enjoyed. Hear about a pair of scary dancing sculls, a spectral presence only dogs could see and learn about a very special chair. These stories are suitable for age seven and above. Then explore the house and garden, immersing yourself in the day-to-day details of Georgian life. Write with a quill pen and ink, dress in replica 18th-century costume, play with reproduction toys and even help the servants with their chores.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30-11:45am
Ghostly fireside tales
Head for the Georgian kitchen, get cosy by the fire and listen as our servants tell some of the traditional Cumbrian ghost stories William and his sister Dorothy might have enjoyed. Hear about a pair of scary dancing sculls, a spectral presence only dogs could see and learn about a very special chair. These stories are suitable for age seven and above. Then explore the house and garden, immersing yourself in the day-to-day details of Georgian life. Write with a quill pen and ink, dress in replica 18th-century costume, play with reproduction toys and even help the servants with their chores.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
2:30-2:45pm
William's Easter egg hunt
Join us for a day of Easter activities to celebrate William’s 242nd birthday. Head to the hands-on Georgian kitchen to find out how to make a decorative pace egg using traditional materials such as primrose flowers and onion skins that were available to William and Dorothy, and learn about ancient Cumbrian Easter traditions like egg dumping that are still carried on today. Take part in an Easter egg hunt in the garden, with Cadbury’s Easter eggs as prizes, try some of William and Dorothy’s favourite caraway seed birthday cake and take a copy of the recipe so you can make it at home.
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-4pm
William's Easter egg hunt
Join us for a day of Easter activities to celebrate William’s 242nd birthday. Head to the hands-on Georgian kitchen to find out how to make a decorative pace egg using traditional materials such as primrose flowers and onion skins that were available to William and Dorothy, and learn about ancient Cumbrian Easter traditions like egg dumping that are still carried on today. Take part in an Easter egg hunt in the garden, with Cadbury’s Easter eggs as prizes, try some of William and Dorothy’s favourite caraway seed birthday cake and take a copy of the recipe so you can make it at home.
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-4pm
Catch a pastry fish
Get creative in the Georgian kitchen and make a traditional pastry fish to take home. Craft your fish using our selection of wooden tools and learn some tricks of pastry creation suitable for artists of all abilities! Our servants will even bake your fish in the bread oven. See our full-size fish wrapped in pastry and pick up a copy of this fantastic 18th-century recipe to try at home. Chat with our servants about the special techniques of Georgian pastry creation, including how they made some truly monstrous pies, sweet and savoury tarts – and how a giant pasty can be the ideal gift.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
William's Easter egg hunt
Join us for a day of Easter activities to celebrate William’s 242nd birthday. Head to the hands-on Georgian kitchen to find out how to make a decorative pace egg using traditional materials such as primrose flowers and onion skins that were available to William and Dorothy, and learn about ancient Cumbrian Easter traditions like egg dumping that are still carried on today. Take part in an Easter egg hunt in the garden, with Cadbury’s Easter eggs as prizes, try some of William and Dorothy’s favourite caraway seed birthday cake and take a copy of the recipe so you can make it at home.
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-4pm
Sugar and spice
Join us for a special day devoted to the Georgians' obsession with sweet and spicy foods. Discover amazing facts about spices, the battles to acquire them, and how they were used in 18th-century cooking – such as in a rather interesting recipe for “Curry the Indian Way” dating from 1747! Find out how sugar was transported and refined. Learn ancient drinking-chocolate recipes, how to make a syllabub, and all about other glorious sweet treats – including plates that you can eat, birds’ nest jellies, a tasty hedgehog and a strange sweet macaroni pie. Plus, have a special tasting of a sweet 18th-century dish.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Sugar and spice
Join us for a special day devoted to the Georgians' obsession with sweet and spicy foods. Discover amazing facts about spices, the battles to acquire them, and how they were used in 18th-century cooking – such as in a rather interesting recipe for “Curry the Indian Way” dating from 1747! Find out how sugar was transported and refined. Learn ancient drinking-chocolate recipes, how to make a syllabub, and all about other glorious sweet treats – including plates that you can eat, birds’ nest jellies, a tasty hedgehog and a strange sweet macaroni pie. Plus, have a special tasting of a sweet 18th-century dish.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
A handful of oats
Join us as we celebrate the humble oat, a staple ingredient in the 18th-century Cumbrian diet. Head for the kitchen to try your hand at ‘the daily grind’ needed to prepare the oats, then roll up your sleeves and have a go at shaping some clap bread, giant forerunner of the modern oatcake. Find out about travelling clap-bread makers and experience how it was baked over an open fire. Try some traditional rum butter, which was used to mask the cardboard-like qualities of the clap bread, learn the recipe, and discover more about the story of rum in Georgian West Cumbria.
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Ghostly fireside tales
Head for the Georgian kitchen, get cosy by the fire and listen as our servants tell some of the traditional Cumbrian ghost stories William and his sister Dorothy might have enjoyed. Hear about a pair of scary dancing sculls, a spectral presence only dogs could see and learn about a very special chair. These stories are suitable for age seven and above. Then explore the house and garden, immersing yourself in the day-to-day details of Georgian life. Write with a quill pen and ink, dress in replica 18th-century costume, play with reproduction toys and even help the servants with their chores.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
2:30-2:45pm
Ghostly fireside tales
Head for the Georgian kitchen, get cosy by the fire and listen as our servants tell some of the traditional Cumbrian ghost stories William and his sister Dorothy might have enjoyed. Hear about a pair of scary dancing sculls, a spectral presence only dogs could see and learn about a very special chair. These stories are suitable for age seven and above. Then explore the house and garden, immersing yourself in the day-to-day details of Georgian life. Write with a quill pen and ink, dress in replica 18th-century costume, play with reproduction toys and even help the servants with their chores.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30-11:45am
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Playthings and pastimes
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Playthings and pastimes
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Spring poetry
Join us for a special poetry reading by a costumed servant in our elegant Georgian dining room. Listen to Daffodils, the most widely known and loved of Wordsworth’s poems, and gain an insight into the inspiration nature and his Cockermouth childhood provided throughout his career. From playing by the River Derwent and chasing butterflies with his beloved sister Dorothy to the breathtaking local scenery, life here shaped him as a man and a writer. As you enjoy exploring his former home, you will find a wide variety of poems by a selection of poets, modern and historic, waiting to be read.
Suitable for
- Any age
- Family friendly
When
11:30-11:45am
Spring poetry
Join us for a special poetry reading by a costumed servant in our elegant Georgian dining room. Listen to Daffodils, the most widely known and loved of Wordsworth’s poems, and gain an insight into the inspiration nature and his Cockermouth childhood provided throughout his career. From playing by the River Derwent and chasing butterflies with his beloved sister Dorothy to the breathtaking local scenery, life here shaped him as a man and a writer. As you enjoy exploring his former home, you will find a wide variety of poems by a selection of poets, modern and historic, waiting to be read.
Suitable for
- Any age
- Family friendly
When
2:30-2:45pm
Teeth and toilets
Join us for a 10-minute talk to celebrate Mother Earth Day and discover just how far the Georgians went in their zeal for economy and recycling. Hear about how they reused everything from kitchen leftovers to human teeth and hair, how they made money from old tea, and what the manservant did with the contents of the family’s chamber pots. Talk to the servants about the making of rush lights and learn how water was a precious and recyclable commodity in the 18th-century household. Watch a rag rug being made and warm your feet on a completed example in the working Georgian kitchen.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Teeth and toilets
Join us for a 10-minute talk to celebrate Mother Earth Day and discover just how far the Georgians went in their zeal for economy and recycling. Hear about how they reused everything from kitchen leftovers to human teeth and hair, how they made money from old tea, and what the manservant did with the contents of the family’s chamber pots. Talk to the servants about the making of rush lights and learn how water was a precious and recyclable commodity in the 18th-century household. Watch a rag rug being made and warm your feet on a completed example in the working Georgian kitchen.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Spring poetry
Join us for a special poetry reading by a costumed servant in our elegant Georgian dining room. Listen to Daffodils, the most widely known and loved of Wordsworth’s poems, and gain an insight into the inspiration nature and his Cockermouth childhood provided throughout his career. From playing by the River Derwent and chasing butterflies with his beloved sister Dorothy to the breathtaking local scenery, life here shaped him as a man and a writer. As you enjoy exploring his former home, you will find a wide variety of poems by a selection of poets, modern and historic, waiting to be read.
Suitable for
- Any age
- Family friendly
When
2:30-2:45pm
Spring poetry
Join us for a special poetry reading by a costumed servant in our elegant Georgian dining room. Listen to Daffodils, the most widely known and loved of Wordsworth’s poems, and gain an insight into the inspiration nature and his Cockermouth childhood provided throughout his career. From playing by the River Derwent and chasing butterflies with his beloved sister Dorothy to the breathtaking local scenery, life here shaped him as a man and a writer. As you enjoy exploring his former home, you will find a wide variety of poems by a selection of poets, modern and historic, waiting to be read.
Suitable for
- Any age
- Family friendly
When
11:30-11:45am
Glorious garden tours
Take a tour of Wordsworth’s childhood playground with our Gardener, hear about how it was devastated by the flood of 2009 and the amazing work that went into its restoration. Find out about the changes since then that have made it more authentic than ever and see what’s currently in bloom. Stroll along the terrace where William and his sister Dorothy played, relax and admire the view from the new Georgian-style summerhouse and listen to a selection of his poetry on the wind-up audio unit. Explore the small walled garden and visit our heritage chickens in their replica 18th-century hen house.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30am-12pm
Georgian Songs and Airs
Have you ever wondered how history sounds? Join us for a special evening of songs, airs and catches from Georgian England, sung by the Herdwyck Consort, a recently formed vocal group based in Cumbria. The name “Herdwyck” comes from a Norse word meaning “sheep pastures” and reflects the group's strong connections with the Lake District. The consort has a reputation for its emotive and exciting performances. The programme will include works by Handel and Arne, and some pieces will be accompanied by our beautiful replica harpsichord. Enjoy this exclusive experience in the drawing room where John Wordsworth, William’s father, would have entertained many important clients. This evening event includes the opportunity to enjoy a glass of wine in our warm and homely Georgian kitchen. £12.50 BE
Suitable for
- Any age
When
7-8:30pm
Where
Drawing Room at Wordsworth House
Admission
All £12.50 per ticket.
Booking essential. Please call 01900 824805 to book.
Cockermouth turns back time
Join us for a very special day of talks, dance, poetry readings and other events, as the town returns to its 18th-century heyday with the celebrated Georgian Fair. Immerse yourself in the day-to-day details of life in this cosy family home and chat to the costumed servants about what it was like to work for the Wordsworths. Explore the ‘hands-on’ rooms, experience the atmospheric working kitchen and sample an authentic 18th-century recipe. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some tips to try at home. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11am-4pm
Sugar and spice
Join us for a special day devoted to the Georgians' obsession with sweet and spicy foods. Discover amazing facts about spices, the battles to acquire them, and how they were used in 18th-century cooking – such as in a rather interesting recipe for “Curry the Indian Way” dating from 1747! Find out how sugar was transported and refined. Learn ancient drinking-chocolate recipes, how to make a syllabub, and all about other glorious sweet treats – including plates that you can eat, birds’ nest jellies, a tasty hedgehog and a strange sweet macaroni pie. Plus, have a special tasting of a sweet 18th-century dish.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Sugar and spice
Join us for a special day devoted to the Georgians' obsession with sweet and spicy foods. Discover amazing facts about spices, the battles to acquire them, and how they were used in 18th-century cooking – such as in a rather interesting recipe for “Curry the Indian Way” dating from 1747! Find out how sugar was transported and refined. Learn ancient drinking-chocolate recipes, how to make a syllabub, and all about other glorious sweet treats – including plates that you can eat, birds’ nest jellies, a tasty hedgehog and a strange sweet macaroni pie. Plus, have a special tasting of a sweet 18th-century dish.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Sugar and spice
Join us for a special day devoted to the Georgians' obsession with sweet and spicy foods. Discover amazing facts about spices, the battles to acquire them, and how they were used in 18th-century cooking – such as in a rather interesting recipe for “Curry the Indian Way” dating from 1747! Find out how sugar was transported and refined. Learn ancient drinking-chocolate recipes, how to make a syllabub, and all about other glorious sweet treats – including plates that you can eat, birds’ nest jellies, a tasty hedgehog and a strange sweet macaroni pie. Plus, have a special tasting of a sweet 18th-century dish.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Sugar and spice
Join us for a special day devoted to the Georgians' obsession with sweet and spicy foods. Discover amazing facts about spices, the battles to acquire them, and how they were used in 18th-century cooking – such as in a rather interesting recipe for “Curry the Indian Way” dating from 1747! Find out how sugar was transported and refined. Learn ancient drinking-chocolate recipes, how to make a syllabub, and all about other glorious sweet treats – including plates that you can eat, birds’ nest jellies, a tasty hedgehog and a strange sweet macaroni pie. Plus, have a special tasting of a sweet 18th-century dish.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Glorious garden tours
Take a tour of Wordsworth’s childhood playground with our Gardener, hear about how it was devastated by the flood of 2009 and the amazing work that went into its restoration. Find out about the changes since then that have made it more authentic than ever and see what’s currently in bloom. Stroll along the terrace where William and his sister Dorothy played, relax and admire the view from the new Georgian-style summerhouse and listen to a selection of his poetry on the wind-up audio unit. Explore the small walled garden and visit our heritage chickens in their replica 18th-century hen house.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30am-12pm
Glorious garden tours
Take a tour of Wordsworth’s childhood playground with our Gardener, hear about how it was devastated by the flood of 2009 and the amazing work that went into its restoration. Find out about the changes since then that have made it more authentic than ever and see what’s currently in bloom. Stroll along the terrace where William and his sister Dorothy played, relax and admire the view from the new Georgian-style summerhouse and listen to a selection of his poetry on the wind-up audio unit. Explore the small walled garden and visit our heritage chickens in their replica 18th-century hen house.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30am-12pm
Glorious garden tours
Take a tour of Wordsworth’s childhood playground with our Gardener, hear about how it was devastated by the flood of 2009 and the amazing work that went into its restoration. Find out about the changes since then that have made it more authentic than ever and see what’s currently in bloom. Stroll along the terrace where William and his sister Dorothy played, relax and admire the view from the new Georgian-style summerhouse and listen to a selection of his poetry on the wind-up audio unit. Explore the small walled garden and visit our heritage chickens in their replica 18th-century hen house.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30am-12pm
Glorious garden tours
Take a tour of Wordsworth’s childhood playground with our Gardener, hear about how it was devastated by the flood of 2009 and the amazing work that went into its restoration. Find out about the changes since then that have made it more authentic than ever and see what’s currently in bloom. Stroll along the terrace where William and his sister Dorothy played, relax and admire the view from the new Georgian-style summerhouse and listen to a selection of his poetry on the wind-up audio unit. Explore the small walled garden and visit our heritage chickens in their replica 18th-century hen house.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30am-12pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Playthings and pastimes
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Playthings and pastimes
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Budding gardeners
Explore Wordsworth’s childhood garden and chat to the staff about the heritage fruit and vegetables. Children of all ages will love decorating their own plant pot made from recycled materials and sowing a seed to take home and grow, while grown ups can find out more about organic gardening and making compost. Stroll along the terrace where William and his sister Dorothy played, relax and admire the view from the new Georgian-style summerhouse and listen to a selection of his poetry on the wind-up audio unit. Explore the small walled garden and visit our heritage chickens in their replica 18th-century hen house.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 0-4
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30am-1:30pm
Herbs and hedgerows
From poisonous puddings to nettle cloth, celebrate World Environment Day by learning about bizarre ways the Georgians employed herbs and wild plants. Join us for a ten-minute talk that includes surprising uses for nettles (medical claims should not be taken seriously!), the recipe for Easter-ledge pudding, folklore and myths about some common plants, and some rather curious quotes. Visit the Georgian kitchen where we'll be cooking with herbs from our garden and some seasonal foraged plants, learn more about 18th-century uses for everyday (and some more unusual) English herbs and even pick up some recipes - look out for Dr Whitaker's Incredible Hair Tonic!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Herbs and hedgerows
From poisonous puddings to nettle cloth, celebrate World Environment Day by learning about bizarre ways the Georgians employed herbs and wild plants. Join us for a ten-minute talk that includes surprising uses for nettles (medical claims should not be taken seriously!), the recipe for Easter-ledge pudding, folklore and myths about some common plants, and some rather curious quotes. Visit the Georgian kitchen where we'll be cooking with herbs from our garden and some seasonal foraged plants, learn more about 18th-century uses for everyday (and some more unusual) English herbs and even pick up some recipes - look out for Dr Whitaker's Incredible Hair Tonic!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
A handful of oats
Join us as we celebrate the humble oat, a staple ingredient in the 18th-century Cumbrian diet. Head for the kitchen to try your hand at ‘the daily grind’ needed to prepare the oats, then roll up your sleeves and have a go at shaping some clap bread, giant forerunner of the modern oatcake. Find out about travelling clap-bread makers and experience how it was baked over an open fire. Try some traditional rum butter, which was used to mask the cardboard-like qualities of the clap bread, learn the recipe, and discover more about the story of rum in Georgian West Cumbria.
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Dress like a Georgian
From stays to stocks, waistcoats to wigs, pads to pockets – join us to get to grips with the marvels of Georgian clothing. A special chance for all ages to dress up in replica 18th-century costumes and pose for a fun family photo. Listen to a ten-minute talk about weird and wonderful fashions designed to create the tiniest waists and the biggest bottoms. Read from a local newspaper that includes a glimpse into truly horrific hairdressing. Go wig-spotting in the prints and paintings around the house, ask the servants how the Georgians concocted their make-up, and look out for a special appearance by Mrs Wordsworth in her best silk dress.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11am-3pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Playthings and pastimes
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Playthings and pastimes
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Georgian Olympics
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
2:30-2:45pm
Georgian Olympics
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30-11:45am
Budding gardeners
Explore Wordsworth’s childhood garden and chat to the staff about the heritage fruit and vegetables. Children of all ages will love decorating their own plant pot made from recycled materials and sowing a seed to take home and grow, while grown ups can find out more about organic gardening and making compost. Stroll along the terrace where William and his sister Dorothy played, relax and admire the view from the new Georgian-style summerhouse and listen to a selection of his poetry on the wind-up audio unit. Explore the small walled garden and visit our heritage chickens in their replica 18th-century hen house.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 0-4
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30am-1:30pm
A handful of oats
Join us as we celebrate the humble oat, a staple ingredient in the 18th-century Cumbrian diet. Head for the kitchen to try your hand at ‘the daily grind’ needed to prepare the oats, then roll up your sleeves and have a go at shaping some clap bread, giant forerunner of the modern oatcake. Find out about travelling clap-bread makers and experience how it was baked over an open fire. Try some traditional rum butter, which was used to mask the cardboard-like qualities of the clap bread, learn the recipe, and discover more about the story of rum in Georgian West Cumbria.
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Herbs and hedgerows
From poisonous puddings to nettle cloth, celebrate World Environment Day by learning about bizarre ways the Georgians employed herbs and wild plants. Join us for a ten-minute talk that includes surprising uses for nettles (medical claims should not be taken seriously!), the recipe for Easter-ledge pudding, folklore and myths about some common plants, and some rather curious quotes. Visit the Georgian kitchen where we'll be cooking with herbs from our garden and some seasonal foraged plants, learn more about 18th-century uses for everyday (and some more unusual) English herbs and even pick up some recipes - look out for Dr Whitaker's Incredible Hair Tonic!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Herbs and hedgerows
From poisonous puddings to nettle cloth, celebrate World Environment Day by learning about bizarre ways the Georgians employed herbs and wild plants. Join us for a ten-minute talk that includes surprising uses for nettles (medical claims should not be taken seriously!), the recipe for Easter-ledge pudding, folklore and myths about some common plants, and some rather curious quotes. Visit the Georgian kitchen where we'll be cooking with herbs from our garden and some seasonal foraged plants, learn more about 18th-century uses for everyday (and some more unusual) English herbs and even pick up some recipes - look out for Dr Whitaker's Incredible Hair Tonic!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Catch a pastry fish
Get creative in the Georgian kitchen and make a traditional pastry fish to take home. Craft your fish using our selection of wooden tools and learn some tricks of pastry creation suitable for artists of all abilities! Our servants will even bake your fish in the bread oven. See our full-size fish wrapped in pastry and pick up a copy of this fantastic 18th-century recipe to try at home. Chat with our servants about the special techniques of Georgian pastry creation, including how they made some truly monstrous pies, sweet and savoury tarts – and how a giant pasty can be the ideal gift.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Georgian Olympics
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
2:30-2:45pm
Georgian Olympics
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30-11:45am
Budding gardeners
Explore Wordsworth’s childhood garden and chat to the staff about the heritage fruit and vegetables. Children of all ages will love decorating their own plant pot made from recycled materials and sowing a seed to take home and grow, while grown ups can find out more about organic gardening and making compost. Stroll along the terrace where William and his sister Dorothy played, relax and admire the view from the new Georgian-style summerhouse and listen to a selection of his poetry on the wind-up audio unit. Explore the small walled garden and visit our heritage chickens in their replica 18th-century hen house.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 0-4
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30am-1:30pm
A handful of oats
Join us as we celebrate the humble oat, a staple ingredient in the 18th-century Cumbrian diet. Head for the kitchen to try your hand at ‘the daily grind’ needed to prepare the oats, then roll up your sleeves and have a go at shaping some clap bread, giant forerunner of the modern oatcake. Find out about travelling clap-bread makers and experience how it was baked over an open fire. Try some traditional rum butter, which was used to mask the cardboard-like qualities of the clap bread, learn the recipe, and discover more about the story of rum in Georgian West Cumbria.
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Herbs and hedgerows
From poisonous puddings to nettle cloth, celebrate World Environment Day by learning about bizarre ways the Georgians employed herbs and wild plants. Join us for a ten-minute talk that includes surprising uses for nettles (medical claims should not be taken seriously!), the recipe for Easter-ledge pudding, folklore and myths about some common plants, and some rather curious quotes. Visit the Georgian kitchen where we'll be cooking with herbs from our garden and some seasonal foraged plants, learn more about 18th-century uses for everyday (and some more unusual) English herbs and even pick up some recipes - look out for Dr Whitaker's Incredible Hair Tonic!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Herbs and hedgerows
From poisonous puddings to nettle cloth, celebrate World Environment Day by learning about bizarre ways the Georgians employed herbs and wild plants. Join us for a ten-minute talk that includes surprising uses for nettles (medical claims should not be taken seriously!), the recipe for Easter-ledge pudding, folklore and myths about some common plants, and some rather curious quotes. Visit the Georgian kitchen where we'll be cooking with herbs from our garden and some seasonal foraged plants, learn more about 18th-century uses for everyday (and some more unusual) English herbs and even pick up some recipes - look out for Dr Whitaker's Incredible Hair Tonic!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Catch a pastry fish
Get creative in the Georgian kitchen and make a traditional pastry fish to take home. Craft your fish using our selection of wooden tools and learn some tricks of pastry creation suitable for artists of all abilities! Our servants will even bake your fish in the bread oven. See our full-size fish wrapped in pastry and pick up a copy of this fantastic 18th-century recipe to try at home. Chat with our servants about the special techniques of Georgian pastry creation, including how they made some truly monstrous pies, sweet and savoury tarts – and how a giant pasty can be the ideal gift.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Georgian Olympics
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30-11:45am
Georgian Olympics
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
2:30-2:45pm
Budding gardeners
Explore Wordsworth’s childhood garden and chat to the staff about the heritage fruit and vegetables. Children of all ages will love decorating their own plant pot made from recycled materials and sowing a seed to take home and grow, while grown ups can find out more about organic gardening and making compost. Stroll along the terrace where William and his sister Dorothy played, relax and admire the view from the new Georgian-style summerhouse and listen to a selection of his poetry on the wind-up audio unit. Explore the small walled garden and visit our heritage chickens in their replica 18th-century hen house.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 0-4
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30am-1:30pm
A handful of oats
Join us as we celebrate the humble oat, a staple ingredient in the 18th-century Cumbrian diet. Head for the kitchen to try your hand at ‘the daily grind’ needed to prepare the oats, then roll up your sleeves and have a go at shaping some clap bread, giant forerunner of the modern oatcake. Find out about travelling clap-bread makers and experience how it was baked over an open fire. Try some traditional rum butter, which was used to mask the cardboard-like qualities of the clap bread, learn the recipe, and discover more about the story of rum in Georgian West Cumbria.
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Herbs and hedgerows
From poisonous puddings to nettle cloth, celebrate World Environment Day by learning about bizarre ways the Georgians employed herbs and wild plants. Join us for a ten-minute talk that includes surprising uses for nettles (medical claims should not be taken seriously!), the recipe for Easter-ledge pudding, folklore and myths about some common plants, and some rather curious quotes. Visit the Georgian kitchen where we'll be cooking with herbs from our garden and some seasonal foraged plants, learn more about 18th-century uses for everyday (and some more unusual) English herbs and even pick up some recipes - look out for Dr Whitaker's Incredible Hair Tonic!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Herbs and hedgerows
From poisonous puddings to nettle cloth, celebrate World Environment Day by learning about bizarre ways the Georgians employed herbs and wild plants. Join us for a ten-minute talk that includes surprising uses for nettles (medical claims should not be taken seriously!), the recipe for Easter-ledge pudding, folklore and myths about some common plants, and some rather curious quotes. Visit the Georgian kitchen where we'll be cooking with herbs from our garden and some seasonal foraged plants, learn more about 18th-century uses for everyday (and some more unusual) English herbs and even pick up some recipes - look out for Dr Whitaker's Incredible Hair Tonic!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Catch a pastry fish
Get creative in the Georgian kitchen and make a traditional pastry fish to take home. Craft your fish using our selection of wooden tools and learn some tricks of pastry creation suitable for artists of all abilities! Our servants will even bake your fish in the bread oven. See our full-size fish wrapped in pastry and pick up a copy of this fantastic 18th-century recipe to try at home. Chat with our servants about the special techniques of Georgian pastry creation, including how they made some truly monstrous pies, sweet and savoury tarts – and how a giant pasty can be the ideal gift.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Georgian Olympics
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
2:30-2:45pm
Georgian Olympics
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30-11:45am
Budding gardeners
Explore Wordsworth’s childhood garden and chat to the staff about the heritage fruit and vegetables. Children of all ages will love decorating their own plant pot made from recycled materials and sowing a seed to take home and grow, while grown ups can find out more about organic gardening and making compost. Stroll along the terrace where William and his sister Dorothy played, relax and admire the view from the new Georgian-style summerhouse and listen to a selection of his poetry on the wind-up audio unit. Explore the small walled garden and visit our heritage chickens in their replica 18th-century hen house.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 0-4
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30am-1:30pm
A handful of oats
Join us as we celebrate the humble oat, a staple ingredient in the 18th-century Cumbrian diet. Head for the kitchen to try your hand at ‘the daily grind’ needed to prepare the oats, then roll up your sleeves and have a go at shaping some clap bread, giant forerunner of the modern oatcake. Find out about travelling clap-bread makers and experience how it was baked over an open fire. Try some traditional rum butter, which was used to mask the cardboard-like qualities of the clap bread, learn the recipe, and discover more about the story of rum in Georgian West Cumbria.
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Herbs and hedgerows
From poisonous puddings to nettle cloth, celebrate World Environment Day by learning about bizarre ways the Georgians employed herbs and wild plants. Join us for a ten-minute talk that includes surprising uses for nettles (medical claims should not be taken seriously!), the recipe for Easter-ledge pudding, folklore and myths about some common plants, and some rather curious quotes. Visit the Georgian kitchen where we'll be cooking with herbs from our garden and some seasonal foraged plants, learn more about 18th-century uses for everyday (and some more unusual) English herbs and even pick up some recipes - look out for Dr Whitaker's Incredible Hair Tonic!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Herbs and hedgerows
From poisonous puddings to nettle cloth, celebrate World Environment Day by learning about bizarre ways the Georgians employed herbs and wild plants. Join us for a ten-minute talk that includes surprising uses for nettles (medical claims should not be taken seriously!), the recipe for Easter-ledge pudding, folklore and myths about some common plants, and some rather curious quotes. Visit the Georgian kitchen where we'll be cooking with herbs from our garden and some seasonal foraged plants, learn more about 18th-century uses for everyday (and some more unusual) English herbs and even pick up some recipes - look out for Dr Whitaker's Incredible Hair Tonic!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Catch a pastry fish
Get creative in the Georgian kitchen and make a traditional pastry fish to take home. Craft your fish using our selection of wooden tools and learn some tricks of pastry creation suitable for artists of all abilities! Our servants will even bake your fish in the bread oven. See our full-size fish wrapped in pastry and pick up a copy of this fantastic 18th-century recipe to try at home. Chat with our servants about the special techniques of Georgian pastry creation, including how they made some truly monstrous pies, sweet and savoury tarts – and how a giant pasty can be the ideal gift.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Georgian Olympics
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
2:30-2:45pm
Georgian Olympics
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30-11:45am
Budding gardeners
Explore Wordsworth’s childhood garden and chat to the staff about the heritage fruit and vegetables. Children of all ages will love decorating their own plant pot made from recycled materials and sowing a seed to take home and grow, while grown ups can find out more about organic gardening and making compost. Stroll along the terrace where William and his sister Dorothy played, relax and admire the view from the new Georgian-style summerhouse and listen to a selection of his poetry on the wind-up audio unit. Explore the small walled garden and visit our heritage chickens in their replica 18th-century hen house.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 0-4
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30am-1:30pm
A handful of oats
Join us as we celebrate the humble oat, a staple ingredient in the 18th-century Cumbrian diet. Head for the kitchen to try your hand at ‘the daily grind’ needed to prepare the oats, then roll up your sleeves and have a go at shaping some clap bread, giant forerunner of the modern oatcake. Find out about travelling clap-bread makers and experience how it was baked over an open fire. Try some traditional rum butter, which was used to mask the cardboard-like qualities of the clap bread, learn the recipe, and discover more about the story of rum in Georgian West Cumbria.
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Herbs and hedgerows
From poisonous puddings to nettle cloth, celebrate World Environment Day by learning about bizarre ways the Georgians employed herbs and wild plants. Join us for a ten-minute talk that includes surprising uses for nettles (medical claims should not be taken seriously!), the recipe for Easter-ledge pudding, folklore and myths about some common plants, and some rather curious quotes. Visit the Georgian kitchen where we'll be cooking with herbs from our garden and some seasonal foraged plants, learn more about 18th-century uses for everyday (and some more unusual) English herbs and even pick up some recipes - look out for Dr Whitaker's Incredible Hair Tonic!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Herbs and hedgerows
From poisonous puddings to nettle cloth, celebrate World Environment Day by learning about bizarre ways the Georgians employed herbs and wild plants. Join us for a ten-minute talk that includes surprising uses for nettles (medical claims should not be taken seriously!), the recipe for Easter-ledge pudding, folklore and myths about some common plants, and some rather curious quotes. Visit the Georgian kitchen where we'll be cooking with herbs from our garden and some seasonal foraged plants, learn more about 18th-century uses for everyday (and some more unusual) English herbs and even pick up some recipes - look out for Dr Whitaker's Incredible Hair Tonic!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Catch a pastry fish
Get creative in the Georgian kitchen and make a traditional pastry fish to take home. Craft your fish using our selection of wooden tools and learn some tricks of pastry creation suitable for artists of all abilities! Our servants will even bake your fish in the bread oven. See our full-size fish wrapped in pastry and pick up a copy of this fantastic 18th-century recipe to try at home. Chat with our servants about the special techniques of Georgian pastry creation, including how they made some truly monstrous pies, sweet and savoury tarts – and how a giant pasty can be the ideal gift.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Georgian Olympics
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
2:30-2:45pm
Georgian Olympics
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30-11:45am
Budding gardeners
Explore Wordsworth’s childhood garden and chat to the staff about the heritage fruit and vegetables. Children of all ages will love decorating their own plant pot made from recycled materials and sowing a seed to take home and grow, while grown ups can find out more about organic gardening and making compost. Stroll along the terrace where William and his sister Dorothy played, relax and admire the view from the new Georgian-style summerhouse and listen to a selection of his poetry on the wind-up audio unit. Explore the small walled garden and visit our heritage chickens in their replica 18th-century hen house.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 0-4
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30am-1:30pm
A handful of oats
Join us as we celebrate the humble oat, a staple ingredient in the 18th-century Cumbrian diet. Head for the kitchen to try your hand at ‘the daily grind’ needed to prepare the oats, then roll up your sleeves and have a go at shaping some clap bread, giant forerunner of the modern oatcake. Find out about travelling clap-bread makers and experience how it was baked over an open fire. Try some traditional rum butter, which was used to mask the cardboard-like qualities of the clap bread, learn the recipe, and discover more about the story of rum in Georgian West Cumbria.
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Herbs and hedgerows
From poisonous puddings to nettle cloth, celebrate World Environment Day by learning about bizarre ways the Georgians employed herbs and wild plants. Join us for a ten-minute talk that includes surprising uses for nettles (medical claims should not be taken seriously!), the recipe for Easter-ledge pudding, folklore and myths about some common plants, and some rather curious quotes. Visit the Georgian kitchen where we'll be cooking with herbs from our garden and some seasonal foraged plants, learn more about 18th-century uses for everyday (and some more unusual) English herbs and even pick up some recipes - look out for Dr Whitaker's Incredible Hair Tonic!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Herbs and hedgerows
From poisonous puddings to nettle cloth, celebrate World Environment Day by learning about bizarre ways the Georgians employed herbs and wild plants. Join us for a ten-minute talk that includes surprising uses for nettles (medical claims should not be taken seriously!), the recipe for Easter-ledge pudding, folklore and myths about some common plants, and some rather curious quotes. Visit the Georgian kitchen where we'll be cooking with herbs from our garden and some seasonal foraged plants, learn more about 18th-century uses for everyday (and some more unusual) English herbs and even pick up some recipes - look out for Dr Whitaker's Incredible Hair Tonic!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Catch a pastry fish
Get creative in the Georgian kitchen and make a traditional pastry fish to take home. Craft your fish using our selection of wooden tools and learn some tricks of pastry creation suitable for artists of all abilities! Our servants will even bake your fish in the bread oven. See our full-size fish wrapped in pastry and pick up a copy of this fantastic 18th-century recipe to try at home. Chat with our servants about the special techniques of Georgian pastry creation, including how they made some truly monstrous pies, sweet and savoury tarts – and how a giant pasty can be the ideal gift.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Georgian Olympics
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
2:30-2:45pm
Georgian Olympics
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30-11:45am
Budding gardeners
Explore Wordsworth’s childhood garden and chat to the staff about the heritage fruit and vegetables. Children of all ages will love decorating their own plant pot made from recycled materials and sowing a seed to take home and grow, while grown ups can find out more about organic gardening and making compost. Stroll along the terrace where William and his sister Dorothy played, relax and admire the view from the new Georgian-style summerhouse and listen to a selection of his poetry on the wind-up audio unit. Explore the small walled garden and visit our heritage chickens in their replica 18th-century hen house.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 0-4
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30am-1:30pm
A handful of oats
Join us as we celebrate the humble oat, a staple ingredient in the 18th-century Cumbrian diet. Head for the kitchen to try your hand at ‘the daily grind’ needed to prepare the oats, then roll up your sleeves and have a go at shaping some clap bread, giant forerunner of the modern oatcake. Find out about travelling clap-bread makers and experience how it was baked over an open fire. Try some traditional rum butter, which was used to mask the cardboard-like qualities of the clap bread, learn the recipe, and discover more about the story of rum in Georgian West Cumbria.
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Fruits of Autumn
Join our Gardener for a fruit-themed tour of Wordsworth’s childhood garden and discover how the Georgians made maximum use of the humble apple. Learn about the amazing array of 18th-century varieties grown at Wordsworth House and how to get the best out of your own fruit crop. Head to the atmospheric working kitchen to find out more about the role of apples in Georgian cooking and the ambivalent 18th-century attitude to fruit that contrasts with our own view of it as a healthy option! Watch the servants cooking traditional apple delights, sample a dish and take a recipe away to try at home.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30am-12pm
Heritage Open Day
Come and explore William Wordsworth’s childhood home – entry is free all day. Listen to a 10-minute talk and immerse yourself in the intriguing details of Georgian life. Chat to the costumed servants about what it was like to work for the Wordsworth family, try writing with a quill pen and ink, and play with replica 18th-century toys. Relax in the ‘hands-on’ rooms, experience the atmospheric working kitchen and sample an authentic traditional recipe. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some tips to try at home. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11am-4pm
Fruits of Autumn
Join our Gardener for a fruit-themed tour of Wordsworth’s childhood garden and discover how the Georgians made maximum use of the humble apple. Learn about the amazing array of 18th-century varieties grown at Wordsworth House and how to get the best out of your own fruit crop. Head to the atmospheric working kitchen to find out more about the role of apples in Georgian cooking and the ambivalent 18th-century attitude to fruit that contrasts with our own view of it as a healthy option! Watch the servants cooking traditional apple delights, sample a dish and take a recipe away to try at home.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30am-12pm
Fruits of Autumn
Join our Gardener for a fruit-themed tour of Wordsworth’s childhood garden and discover how the Georgians made maximum use of the humble apple. Learn about the amazing array of 18th-century varieties grown at Wordsworth House and how to get the best out of your own fruit crop. Head to the atmospheric working kitchen to find out more about the role of apples in Georgian cooking and the ambivalent 18th-century attitude to fruit that contrasts with our own view of it as a healthy option! Watch the servants cooking traditional apple delights, sample a dish and take a recipe away to try at home.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30am-12pm
Fruits of Autumn
Join our Gardener for a fruit-themed tour of Wordsworth’s childhood garden and discover how the Georgians made maximum use of the humble apple. Learn about the amazing array of 18th-century varieties grown at Wordsworth House and how to get the best out of your own fruit crop. Head to the atmospheric working kitchen to find out more about the role of apples in Georgian cooking and the ambivalent 18th-century attitude to fruit that contrasts with our own view of it as a healthy option! Watch the servants cooking traditional apple delights, sample a dish and take a recipe away to try at home.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30am-12pm
Autumn poetry
Join us to celebrate the changing of the season with a special poetry reading by one of the costumed servants in our elegant dining room. Most people have heard Wordsworth's famous lines about daffodils, but this light-hearted talk and reading offers a lovely opportunity to learn more about how the scenery and nature of his childhood, such as playing by the River Derwent and chasing butterflies with his sister Dorothy, inspired William Wordsworth throughout his life. And as you enjoy exploring William's childhood home, discover a wide variety of autumn poems to read by a selection of poets, modern and historic.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Autumn poetry
Join us to celebrate the changing of the season with a special poetry reading by one of the costumed servants in our elegant dining room. Most people have heard Wordsworth's famous lines about daffodils, but this light-hearted talk and reading offers a lovely opportunity to learn more about how the scenery and nature of his childhood, such as playing by the River Derwent and chasing butterflies with his sister Dorothy, inspired William Wordsworth throughout his life. And as you enjoy exploring William's childhood home, discover a wide variety of autumn poems to read by a selection of poets, modern and historic.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Autumn poetry
Join us to celebrate the changing of the season with a special poetry reading by one of the costumed servants in our elegant dining room. Most people have heard Wordsworth's famous lines about daffodils, but this light-hearted talk and reading offers a lovely opportunity to learn more about how the scenery and nature of his childhood, such as playing by the River Derwent and chasing butterflies with his sister Dorothy, inspired William Wordsworth throughout his life. And as you enjoy exploring William's childhood home, discover a wide variety of autumn poems to read by a selection of poets, modern and historic.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Autumn poetry
Join us to celebrate the changing of the season with a special poetry reading by one of the costumed servants in our elegant dining room. Most people have heard Wordsworth's famous lines about daffodils, but this light-hearted talk and reading offers a lovely opportunity to learn more about how the scenery and nature of his childhood, such as playing by the River Derwent and chasing butterflies with his sister Dorothy, inspired William Wordsworth throughout his life. And as you enjoy exploring William's childhood home, discover a wide variety of autumn poems to read by a selection of poets, modern and historic.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Autumn poetry
Join us to celebrate the changing of the season with a special poetry reading by one of the costumed servants in our elegant dining room. Most people have heard Wordsworth's famous lines about daffodils, but this light-hearted talk and reading offers a lovely opportunity to learn more about how the scenery and nature of his childhood, such as playing by the River Derwent and chasing butterflies with his sister Dorothy, inspired William Wordsworth throughout his life. And as you enjoy exploring William's childhood home, discover a wide variety of autumn poems to read by a selection of poets, modern and historic.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Autumn poetry
Join us to celebrate the changing of the season with a special poetry reading by one of the costumed servants in our elegant dining room. Most people have heard Wordsworth's famous lines about daffodils, but this light-hearted talk and reading offers a lovely opportunity to learn more about how the scenery and nature of his childhood, such as playing by the River Derwent and chasing butterflies with his sister Dorothy, inspired William Wordsworth throughout his life. And as you enjoy exploring William's childhood home, discover a wide variety of autumn poems to read by a selection of poets, modern and historic.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Autumn poetry
Join us to celebrate the changing of the season with a special poetry reading by one of the costumed servants in our elegant dining room. Most people have heard Wordsworth's famous lines about daffodils, but this light-hearted talk and reading offers a lovely opportunity to learn more about how the scenery and nature of his childhood, such as playing by the River Derwent and chasing butterflies with his sister Dorothy, inspired William Wordsworth throughout his life. And as you enjoy exploring William's childhood home, discover a wide variety of autumn poems to read by a selection of poets, modern and historic.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Autumn poetry
Join us to celebrate the changing of the season with a special poetry reading by one of the costumed servants in our elegant dining room. Most people have heard Wordsworth's famous lines about daffodils, but this light-hearted talk and reading offers a lovely opportunity to learn more about how the scenery and nature of his childhood, such as playing by the River Derwent and chasing butterflies with his sister Dorothy, inspired William Wordsworth throughout his life. And as you enjoy exploring William's childhood home, discover a wide variety of autumn poems to read by a selection of poets, modern and historic.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Playthings and pastimes
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Playthings and pastimes
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Pastry pumpkins
Get creative in the Georgian kitchen and make a pastry pumpkin to take home. Learn some tricks for making fun pastry creations from the servants – they'll even bake your masterpiece in the bread oven. See our pastry dishes using authentic Georgian recipes and find out about some truly monstrous pies, sweet and savoury tarts, and why the perfect 18th-century gift was a giant pasty! Also, have a chat with the servants to discover how food was coloured naturally in Georgian times, including delights such as “crushed bluebottles” and “gamboge” – some you may want to try at home but others are rather deadly.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Sugar and spice
Join us for a special day devoted to the Georgians' obsession with sweet and spicy foods. Discover amazing facts about spices, the battles to acquire them, and how they were used in 18th-century cooking – such as in a rather interesting recipe for “Curry the Indian Way” dating from 1747! Find out how sugar was transported and refined. Learn ancient drinking-chocolate recipes, how to make a syllabub, and all about other glorious sweet treats – including plates that you can eat, birds’ nest jellies, a tasty hedgehog and a strange sweet macaroni pie. Plus, have a special tasting of a sweet 18th-century dish.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Sugar and spice
Join us for a special day devoted to the Georgians' obsession with sweet and spicy foods. Discover amazing facts about spices, the battles to acquire them, and how they were used in 18th-century cooking – such as in a rather interesting recipe for “Curry the Indian Way” dating from 1747! Find out how sugar was transported and refined. Learn ancient drinking-chocolate recipes, how to make a syllabub, and all about other glorious sweet treats – including plates that you can eat, birds’ nest jellies, a tasty hedgehog and a strange sweet macaroni pie. Plus, have a special tasting of a sweet 18th-century dish.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
A handful of oats
Join us as we celebrate the humble oat, a staple ingredient in the 18th-century Cumbrian diet. Head for the kitchen to try your hand at ‘the daily grind’ needed to prepare the oats, then roll up your sleeves and have a go at shaping some clap bread, giant forerunner of the modern oatcake. Find out about travelling clap-bread makers and experience how it was baked over an open fire. Try some traditional rum butter, which was used to mask the cardboard-like qualities of the clap bread, learn the recipe, and discover more about the story of rum in Georgian West Cumbria.
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11am-3pm
Ghostly fireside tales
Head for the Georgian kitchen, get cosy by the fire and listen as our servants tell some of the traditional Cumbrian ghost stories William and his sister Dorothy might have enjoyed. Hear about a pair of scary dancing sculls, a spectral presence only dogs could see and learn about a very special chair. These stories are suitable for age seven and above. Then explore the house and garden, immersing yourself in the day-to-day details of Georgian life. Write with a quill pen and ink, dress in replica 18th-century costume, play with reproduction toys and even help the servants with their chores.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
2:30-2:45pm
Ghostly fireside tales
Head for the Georgian kitchen, get cosy by the fire and listen as our servants tell some of the traditional Cumbrian ghost stories William and his sister Dorothy might have enjoyed. Hear about a pair of scary dancing sculls, a spectral presence only dogs could see and learn about a very special chair. These stories are suitable for age seven and above. Then explore the house and garden, immersing yourself in the day-to-day details of Georgian life. Write with a quill pen and ink, dress in replica 18th-century costume, play with reproduction toys and even help the servants with their chores.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
11:30-11:45am
Talks and tastings
Join us for a ten-minute talk by one of our costumed servants and find out all sorts of curious facts about life in William Wordsworth's time. Have a chat afterwards and get inside stories on the Wordsworth family. Discover what William’s sister Dorothy's favourite cake was and what alcohol his father John kept the most of in the cellars. See food being prepared in the atmospheric working kitchen, accompanied by a special tasting of an 18th-century dish. Learn more about Georgian cooking techniques and pick up some authentic recipes. You can even roll up your sleeves and help the servants with their chores!
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Playthings and pastimes
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11:30-11:45am
Playthings and pastimes
Roll up, roll up and learn about the ways Georgians of all classes amused themselves, ranging from the bloodthirsty to the downright bizarre. Find out about the ins and outs of Cumbrian wrestling, the horrors of cockfighting and bare-knuckle boxing, why pinching matches were popular and about the social side of 18th-century hiring fairs. Visit the children’s bedroom and try out replicas of some of the toys William and his sister Dorothy might have owned. Then how about a hand of snip, snap, snorum with the servants or, if the weather is fine, a game of skittles in William’s childhood garden?
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2:30-2:45pm
Main Street
Cockermouth
Cumbria
CA13 9RX
England
Website
wordsworthhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk
Telephone
Recorded Information
01900 820884
Enquiries/Group bookings
01900 824805
Fax
Group bookings
01900 820883
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